P128M SMUGGLED DIESEL SEIZED IN BATANGAS

A JOINT law enforcement team spearheaded by the Bureau of Customs’ Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), seized a motor tanker and 11 lorry trucks carrying smuggled fuel worth P128 million during an anti-smuggling operation at the Subukin Port, San Juan, Batangas last February 4, the biggest thus far this year.

Alvin Enciso, head of the CIIS at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), in his report to CIIS Director Verne Enciso, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Juvymax Uy and Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, said the operation also resulted to the discovery and seizure of some 217,000 liters of smuggled diesel valued at more than P13 million.

The bulk of the illicit fuel, estimated at 200,000 liters, was found at the storage hull of the ‘M/T Feliza’ which was anchored at the port.

The lorry trucks, meanwhile, were parked near the tanker as they await their turn for loading.

“The tanker and the lorries had ‘failed’ results in the initial fuel sampling and testing conducted in the area by SGS Fuel Marking Team-Batangas and our CIIS-MICP agents. The fuel marking was at zero percent,” noted CIIS Director Verne Enciso.

Fuel marking is a longstanding program of the government being implemented by the BOC precisely to combat the smuggling and illegal sale of oil products, particularly diesel and gasoline.

Enciso added that the vessel’s captain, Adolfo Jabines Tindoy, was found hiding in the ship’s deck when the team boarded the tanker.

A sweep of the vessel using K9 dogs turned negative for the presence of illegal drugs, he added.

At P60 per liter, the 217,000 liters of diesel found was valued at P13,020,000, while the motor tanker has an estimated value of P60 million and the 11 lorry trucks at P55 million for P5 million each, for a grand total of P128 million, the BOC noted.

This would be the third major apprehension by the BOC of vessels engaged in fuel smuggling in Batangas since Uy, a bemedalled Philippine Army general and former head of the elite Intelligence Service Group (ISG), assumed the post as BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence in October 2022.

On February 8, 2023, the BOC seized the ‘M/T Harmony Star’ while discharging smuggled fuel in the town of Mabini (Pinoy Exposé, February 9, 2023).

Last October 16, 2024, the ‘MTKR Cassandra and 4 lorry trucks were also seized and 11 persons arrested for the smuggling of diesel at the Port of Batangas worth over P90 million (Pinoy Exposé, October 24, 2024).

Comm. Rubio in a brief statement, lauded the success of the operation that was participated in by the ‘Task Force Aduana’ of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Batangas office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

In a separate press statement, the CIDG said a total of 26 individuals were arrested in connection with the criminal activity.

“Our team effort resulted from the collaboration of our agency and other relevant government departments.
“The illegal and fraudulent entry of smuggled fuel and the ‘paihi system’ (pilferage) hurt not only our legitimate fuel distributors but more so our consumers, the Filipino people, because unmarked fuel put them at risk and hazard,” Comm. Rubio said.

He added the seizing of the motor tanker and the lorry trucks was made possible because of the “swift and decisive action” of the operating team after the BOC received derogatory information about the M/T Feliza.

“This is a critical and significant seizure because we need to make sure, as the agency at the forefront of border patrol, that only tested and safe fuel get to our markets,” the customs chief said.

DCI Uy, for his part, noted the seizure also underscore the importance of not only border control and patrol, but of the protection of the economy and consumers from fraudulent products.

“While our mandate is to protect and man our borders, it comes with the responsibility of making sure our consumers, especially those who purchase from small and independent retailers, have access to only legal, legitimate, and tested products, including fuel,” he said.

The vicinity of where the tanker and lorry trucks were found had been secured by the BOC team as the investigation continues.

The owners, ship captain, and crew of the motor vessel and trucks are facing charges for violation of Sections 117 and 1113 of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), as well as RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law after they failed to present proper documents for the seized fuel.